US3889027A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Retroreflective film
Assignee: Rohm and Haas Co
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Filing: 1974-04-12
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Granted: 1975-06-10
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Expires: 1994-04-12
Abstract
Abstract A retroreflective film comprising a lamination of a first base layer having vacuum metallized hemispherical depressions on one surface thereof and a second layer having substantially hemispherical projections from the surface thereof formed from an optically transparent film wherein the first and second layers are arranged so that the hemispherical depressions of the base layer and the substantially hemispherical projections of the intermediate layer are concentrically arranged and the radius of the hemispherical depressions of the base layer is greater than the radius of the substantially hemispherical projections of the second layer. A laminate construction with matched opposing substantially hemispherical projections on the second layer is preferably provided with a third optically clear overlay film.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael L White
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:37
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/12; G02B5/126; G02B5/128; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1002; Y10T156/1007; Y10T156/1023; Y10T156/1025; Y10T156/1039; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24479; Y10T428/24521
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A RETROFEFLECTIVE LAMINATE COMPRISING A FIRST FILM HAVING HEMISPHERICALLY FORMED DEPRESSIONS OF UNIFORM SIZE AND SHAPE ON ONE SURFACE THEREOF, SAID SURFACE HAVING A REFLECTIVE MATERIAL DEPOSITED THEREIN, A SECOND OPTICALLY TRANSPARENT FILM WITH EACH SURFACE BEING SO FASHIONED S TO FORM MATCHED AND OPPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY HEMISPHERICAL PROJECTIONS OF UNIFORM SIZE AND SHAPE FROM EACH SURFACE OF SAID FILM, WHERE SAID PROJECTIONS HAVING AN IDENTICAL CENTER-TO-CENTER SPACING BUT A SMALLER RADIUS THAN THAT OF THE HEMISPHERICAL DEPRESSIONS OF THE FIRST FILM, THE FIRST AND SECOND FILMS BEING ARRANGED SO THAT THE SUBSTANTIALLY HEMISPHERICAL PROJECTIONS ON ONE SURFACE OF THE SECOND FILM ARE MATCHED CONCENTRICALLY WITH THE HEMISPHERICAL DEPRESSIONS OF THE FIRST FILM TO LEAVE A SPACE THEREBETWEEN, AND A THIRD OPTICALLY CLEAR OVERLAY FILM , DISPOSED OVER THE SUBSTANTIALLY HEMISPHERICAL PROJECTIONS ON THE OTHER SURFACE OF THE SECOND FILM, SAID OVERLAY FILM MAKING TANGENTIAL CONTACT WITH SAID PROJECTIONS TO LEAVE A SPACE THEREBETWEEN THE LAMINATE BEING BONDED TOGETHER DISCONTINUOUSLY OVER ABOUT 20 PERCENT OR LESS OF THE TOTAL AREA OF THE LAMINATE TO MINIMIZE OPTICAL INACTIVITY CAUSED BY THE BONDING PROCESS.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
A RETROFEFLECTIVE LAMINATE COMPRISING A FIRST FILM HAVING HEMISPHERICALLY FORMED DEPRESSIONS OF UNIFORM SIZE AND SHAPE ON ONE SURFACE THEREOF, SAID SURFACE HAVING A REFLECTIVE MATERIAL DEPOSITED THEREIN, A SECOND OPTICALLY TRANSPARENT FILM WITH EACH SURFACE BEING SO FASHIONED S TO FORM MATCHED AND OPPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY HEMISPHERICAL PROJECTIONS OF UNIFORM SIZE AND SHAPE FROM EACH SURFACE OF SAID FILM, WHERE SAID PROJECTIONS HAVING AN IDENTICAL CENTER-TO-CENTER SPACING BUT A SMALLER RADIUS THAN THAT OF THE HEMISPHERICAL DEPRESSIONS OF THE FIRST FILM, THE FIRST AND SECOND FILMS BEING ARRANGED SO THAT THE SUBSTANTIALLY HEMISPHERICAL PROJECTIONS ON ONE SURFACE OF THE SECOND FILM ARE MATCHED CONCENTRICALLY WITH THE HEMISPHERICAL DEPRESSIONS OF THE FIRST FILM TO LEAVE A SPACE THEREBETWEEN, AND A THIRD OPTICALLY CLEAR OVERLAY FILM , DISPOSED OVER THE SUBSTANTIALLY HEMISPHERICAL PROJECTIONS ON THE OTHER SURFACE OF THE SECOND FILM, SAID OVERLAY FILM MAKING TANGENTIAL CONTACT WITH SAID PROJECTIONS TO LEAVE A SPACE THEREBETWEEN THE LAMINATE BEING BONDED TOGETHER DISCONTINUOUSLY OVER ABOUT 20 PERCENT OR LESS OF THE TOTAL AREA OF THE LAMINATE TO MINIMIZE OPTICAL INACTIVITY CAUSED BY THE BONDING PROCESS.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
146 words
A RETROREFLECTIVE LAMINATE COMPRISING A FIRST FLIM HAVING HEMISPHERICALLY FORMED DEPRESSIONS OF UNIFORM SIZE AND SHAPE ON ONE SURFACE THEREOF, SAID SURFACE HAVING A REFLECTIVE MATERIAL DEPOSITED THEREON, A SECOND OPTICALLY TRANSPARENT FILM HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY HEMISPHERICAL PROJECTIONS OF UNIFORM SIZE AND SHAPE FORMED ON ONE SURFACE OF SAID FILM, WHERE SAID PROJECTIONS HAVE AN IDENTICAL CENTER-TO-CENTER SPACING BUT A SMALLER RADIUS THAN THAT OF THE HEMISPHERICAL DEPRESSIONS OF THE FIRST FILM, THE FIRST AND SECOND FILMS BEING ARRANGED SO THAT THE SUBSTANTIALLY HEMISPHERICL PROJECTIONS OF THE SECOND FILM ARE MATCHED CONCENTRICALLY WITH THE HEMISPHERICAL DEPRESSIONS OF THE FIRST FILM TO LEAVE A SPACE THEREBETWEEN, THE OTHER SURFACE OF THE SECOND FILM FORMING AN OUTER SURFACE OF SAID LAMINATE, THE LAMINATE BEING BONDED TOGETHER DISCONTINUOUSLY OVER ABOUT 20 PERCENT OF LESS OF THE TOTAL AEA OF THE LAMINATE TO MINIMIZE OPTICAL INACTIVITY CAUSED BY THE BONDING PROCESS.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
146 words
A RETROREFLECTIVE LAMINATE COMPRISING A FIRST FLIM HAVING HEMISPHERICALLY FORMED DEPRESSIONS OF UNIFORM SIZE AND SHAPE ON ONE SURFACE THEREOF, SAID SURFACE HAVING A REFLECTIVE MATERIAL DEPOSITED THEREON, A SECOND OPTICALLY TRANSPARENT FILM HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY HEMISPHERICAL PROJECTIONS OF UNIFORM SIZE AND SHAPE FORMED ON ONE SURFACE OF SAID FILM, WHERE SAID PROJECTIONS HAVE AN IDENTICAL CENTER-TO-CENTER SPACING BUT A SMALLER RADIUS THAN THAT OF THE HEMISPHERICAL DEPRESSIONS OF THE FIRST FILM, THE FIRST AND SECOND FILMS BEING ARRANGED SO THAT THE SUBSTANTIALLY HEMISPHERICL PROJECTIONS OF THE SECOND FILM ARE MATCHED CONCENTRICALLY WITH THE HEMISPHERICAL DEPRESSIONS OF THE FIRST FILM TO LEAVE A SPACE THEREBETWEEN, THE OTHER SURFACE OF THE SECOND FILM FORMING AN OUTER SURFACE OF SAID LAMINATE, THE LAMINATE BEING BONDED TOGETHER DISCONTINUOUSLY OVER ABOUT 20 PERCENT OF LESS OF THE TOTAL AEA OF THE LAMINATE TO MINIMIZE OPTICAL INACTIVITY CAUSED BY THE BONDING PROCESS.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The laminate of claim 1, wherein the ratio of h/R where h is the distance between the reflecting surface of the hemispherical depressions of the first film and the substantially hemispherical projections of the second film, and wherein R is the radius of the matched opposing substantially hemispherical projections of the second film, is defined by the equation:
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The laminate of claim 2, wherein the ratio of h/R where h is the distance between the reflecting surface of the hemispherical depressions of the first film, and the substantially hemispherical projections of the second film, and wherein R is the radius of the substantially hemispherical projections of the second film, is defined by the equation:
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-09 | 1978-12-09 | 1979-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-09 | 1982-12-09 | 1983-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-09 | 1986-12-09 | 1987-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |